Mardi Gras is celebrated
on a Tuesday and is
always 47 days before
Easter Sunday.

The celebration of
Mardi Gras – the day
before the Christian
season of Lent begins in
late
winter – is a big
occasion in New Orleans,
Louisiana, where huge
parades and wild revels
take place. Mardi Gras
means "Fat Tuesday", the
last day of hearty
eating before the
penitential season of
Lent.

As its French name
implies, the tradition
goes back to the city's
settlement by French
immigrants. Early
explorers celebrated it
on the banks of the
Mississippi River.
Throughout the years,
Orleanians have added to
the celebration by
establishing krewes
(organizations) which
host parades and balls.

The official colors
for Mardi Gras are
purple, green, and gold.
These colors where
chosen in 1872 by the
King of Carnival, Rex.
He chose these colors to
stand for the following:

Purple represents
justice

Green stands for
faith

Gold stands for
power

The Mardi Gras season
begins about two weeks
before Fat Tuesday.
During those two weeks,
parades can be viewed
nightly and on weekends.
Almost all businesses
are closed for Lundi
Gras (Fat Monday) and
for Mardi Gras itself.
People all over the
world come to New
Orleans to enjoy this
extravagant holiday.